In 1993, only 13% of our military supported gay men & women serving along side them. Today that number is 73%, according to a new poll i saw by way of Raw Story by way of Service members Legal Defense Network. What a difference a decade makes:
A new poll from Zogby International and the Michael D. Palm Center reveals that U.S. military personnel are increasingly comfortable serving with openly gay colleagues. The poll, released today, reveals that 73% of military members are comfortable with lesbians and gays. Nearly one in four (23%) service members report knowing for sure that someone in their unit is lesbian or gay, including 21% of those in combat units.
The poll of 545 troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan also found that, even among those who did not know for certain if a gay colleague was in their unit, nearly half (45%) suspected as much. Among those who did know a gay colleague, few said their presence undermined morale. In 1993, only 13% of enlisted personnel supported open service.
More below the fold...
Ba-Bye, 'Don't ask, don't tell!" You're no longer relevant:
"Today’s poll is one more nail in the coffin of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’" said C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "Those who defend the law have argued that openly gay personnel harm military readiness. This research highlights the absurdity of such a hypothesis. Not only are there more than 65,000 lesbians and gays serving in the armed forces, but many are serving openly. Their straight colleagues are just fine with that At a time when our fighting forces are stretched thin and leaders are calling for the recruitment of more troops, it is time for Congress to do away with this archaic law."
It seems to me that the longer gays a part of the vernacular in society (the more we are in the daily live of those whether it is visa vi a public official who is out and proud or a celebrity like Ellen DeGeneres or Rosie O'Donnell or for those who serve our country with honor), the more society say no to the intolerance that has been so pervasive ever since the 2000 elections.
Senior military leaders are increasingly speaking up in favor of reviewing the ban on open service as well. Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, USA (Ret.), the first female to achieve three-star rank in the Army, recently called "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" a "hollow policy that serves no useful purpose." Lieutenant General Daniel W. Christman, former superintendent of West Point, told The New York Times that "It is clear that national attitudes toward this issue have evolved considerably in the last decade. This has been led by a new generation of service members who take a more relaxed and tolerant view toward homosexuality."
"There has been a seismic shift among the military and the public in favor of welcoming gay patriots in our armed forces," said Osburn. "Congress should follow the example of those who serve on the frontlines every day and repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ once and for all."
The only thing I don't understand about what the numbers in this poll provides is how have so many states been able to pass anti-gay marriage amendments?
Since this is a poll of military men & women, that would make me even more hopeful about the public at large (knowing who homophobic the military has been in the past). But, that doesn't jive with how half the states in our country have or are on the way too passing amendments to their state constitutions banning gay marriage.
Or, are these two completely separate (and not equal) issues?
Hmmm.....
Well, either way, this poll is a great thing! I'll take the good news anyway it comes.
Queer is beautiful. Pass it along.